A violent clash erupted between two rival groups on Peer Baba Road in Baltana late Saturday night, leaving a 20-year-old youth critically injured. Police have registered a case of attempt to murder and launched a search for the other accused involved in the attack.
Background of the Clash
The clash is believed to be a fallout of a previous altercation between the two groups at the Ramlila Ground in Baltana a day before the incident. Tensions had remained high following that dispute. Police said both groups confronted each other again on Saturday night, leading to a violent attack involving sharp-edged weapons and sticks.
Injuries and Medical Treatment
The injured youth, identified as Ashu, suffered serious head injuries and multiple wounds on other parts of his body. He is currently undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, Chandigarh. His condition is stated to be critical. According to police, Ashu was initially taken to a hospital in Dhakoli, from where he was referred to the Civil Hospital in Phase 6, Mohali, and later shifted to GMCH-32 for advanced treatment. Doctors have declared him unfit to record his statement.
Police Investigation and Arrest
SI Harjinder Singh, in-charge of the Baltana Police Post, said preliminary investigations revealed that an old rivalry between the two groups escalated. Police alleged that Harsh Kumar, a resident of Saini Vihar, Baltana, and his associates surrounded Ashu and attacked him with sharp-edged weapons and sticks around 10 pm on the intervening night of May 29 and 30. Upon receiving information, a police team reached the spot and shifted the injured youth to a nearby hospital.
Based on preliminary inquiry, police registered a case against Harsh Kumar and his unidentified accomplices under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Harsh Kumar was arrested and produced before a local court, which remanded him to two-day police custody. No family member or eyewitness was available to provide an immediate account of the attack.
Ongoing Efforts
Police said efforts are on to identify and arrest the remaining accused involved in the attack. Multiple raids are being conducted at various locations to apprehend them. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are awaited.
